A new STEM course being offered at The Oakridge School will give some Upper School students a head start at the University of Texas at Austin. The teacher leading the course, Engineer Your World, hopes the curriculum will also inspire tomorrow’s problem solvers. 

“Through Engineer Your World, students learn the engineering process and collegiate level expectations in a high school course,” said Matt Knauf, who teaches Honors Design Thinking & Tech, and Honors Engineering at Oakridge. “The course teaches students how to design like engineers, to use data analysis to drive their decisions, and ultimately design complex solutions in a systems engineering capstone challenge.” Mr. Knauf added that Oakridge is the only school in Arlington offering the course in partnership with UT Austin. 

A team of faculty members at the university’s Cockrell School of Engineering developed Engineering Your World, along with NASA engineers, and secondary teachers working with funding from the National Science Foundation. The curriculum engages learners in authentic engineering experiences and inspires them to embrace an engineer’s habits of mind. Oakridge students enrolled in Engineer Your World are eligible to apply for dual credit with UT Austin. 

Another goal of Engineering Your World is to offer teacher support. Through the program, educators learn engineering principles that prepare them to teach EYW courses in their high schools. Visit http://engineeryourworld.org/ for more details about the program.

About The Oakridge School

Established in 1979, The Oakridge School is a coeducational, college preparatory school for students in preschool through grade 12. The school draws a diverse student body from 36 area cities and 15 countries to a dynamic learning environment on a 100-acre campus in Arlington. The Oakridge School mission is to inspire students to seek their full potential in academics, the arts, and athletics in a challenging and nurturing environment that cultivates social responsibility, mutual respect, and personal integrity. To learn more about The Oakridge School, visit www.theoakridgeschool.org.